Alabama legislators aim to tighten abortion restrictions

Wednesday

Jan 23, 2013 at 5:08 PM

Three Alabama legislators said Wednesday they are considering legislation that would tighten controls over abortions. Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, said he is considering introducing a bill that would legally define the term “persons” to include any human being from the moment of fertilization.

By Dana BeyerleMontgomery Bureau Chief

MONTGOMERY | Three Alabama legislators said Wednesday they are considering legislation that would tighten controls over abortions.Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, said he is considering introducing a bill that would legally define the term “persons” to include any human being from the moment of fertilization.“I believe that life begins at moment of conception and this bill establishes that,” Williams said. “I’m getting a look at it how it might be presented this year.” Williams said his bill needs rewriting after a Mississippi ballot attempt to pass a similar measure failed last year. “We’re examining the language so we don’t have that language,” Williams said. “Opponents were able to exploit a loophole.”Rep. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, said she plans to introduce legislation that would protect medical employees against punishment or retribution if they decline to participate in abortions for moral reasons.“The basic concept is that if health care providers perform services that violate someone’s conscience, there’s immunity from discrimination if you choose not to participate,” Weaver said.Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, said she will reintroduce the Women’s Health and Safety Act that would require abortions to be performed under strict pre-and post-operative medical and nursing conditions.The proposed bill was part of the Republican House agenda outlined last week for the 2013 legislative session that begins Feb. 5.McClurkin said abortion clinics do not have the same “accountability” as other health care facilities. “To me this is the least thing we can do to provide a healthy environment who women who choose to have abortions,” she said.According to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, 515,900 abortions were performed in Alabama from 1973 when abortions became legal until 2011.